Graduate Course Offerings

(Current course information is available via the Graduate Bulletin.)

At the department's discretion, some required courses in the MFA program in Dramaturgy may be taught at the Stony Brook Manhattan campus, in order to take advantage of contacts that students can make through guest lecturers and other theatre arts opportunities that are so abundant in NYC.

Introduction to Graduate Study in Theatre Arts
THR 500
This course surveys the field of theatre scholarship, introducing students to research tools, research methods, critical writing, and scholarly values. Discussions include reference to basic texts in dramatic literature and representative research problems.

Dramaturgy I: Production Dramaturgy
THR 505
An introduction to production dramaturgy in which students explore the types of research and concept development necessary to prepare already produced scripts for performance. Research tools and methods, investigations of cultural and social history, critical writing, and issues in adaptation and translation are discussed. Means of facilitating communication within a production team and between actors, designers, and directors are examined. Other topics include season planning, promotion and publicity, educational outreach materials, preparation of protocols, post-play discussion, and other audience development techniques.

Dramaturgy II: Literary Management
THR 506
Examining the roles of the literary manager in the contemporary theatre, this course explores the process of new play development and the preparation of a new play for production. The ability to read and write sensitively about new plays, reading new plays and preparing sophisticated play reports, how to talk to playwrights about their plays, and how to facilitate discussions with directors and actors as they encounter a play for the first time are issues examined in this course. New plays from a variety of venues, including professional theatres in New York City, are read and discussed, and the process of developing new plays from staged readings through public performances are studied.

Dramaturgy of Process: Theatre, Drama, and Performance
THR 507
Students explore topics such as translation and adaptation of material, production dramaturgy, and devising new models of dramaturgy.

Western Theatre History
THR 510
Theatre forms in the Western tradition, from ancient to modern. This course is centered on a particular critical or theoretic problem or theme.

Far Eastern theatre and Drama: China, Korea, and Japan
THR 511
Theatre forms beyond the Western tradition, including ritual drama, Asian classical forms, and recent developments. Course is centered around a theme, and includes both survey materials and supplementary readings.

Western Dramatic Literature
THR 520
Course surveys forms of Western drama, with particular reference to theatrical performance. Focus is placed on key periods and themes such as gender issues, political violence, death and dying, love, etc.

South and Southeast Asian Theatre and Drama
THR 521
Course surveys major forms of Asian theatre—Sanskrit drama, Noh, Kabuki, Beijing opera, and selected forms of folk and modern theatre—focusing on themes of gender, political and social issues, death and dying, love, etc.

Theatre in New York
THR 523
A workshop seminar on contemporary, alternative performance forms, and mainstream theatre. Emphasis on the development of critical perspectives and the writing skills needed to articulate them through seminar discussions and writing workshops relevant to performances seen on trips to theatres in New York and the region.

Topics in Theatre and Drama
THR 525
Intensive studies of selected forms of theatre and drama from various countries and periods, designed to supplement areas of study already undertaken in the curriculum.

Directed Reading in Theatre and Drama
THR 530 and Spring
Students read and evaluate the literature on a topic of special academic interest under the supervision of a faculty member.

Theories of Theatre
THR 535
Theories of the theatre, from the ancient to the contemporary, are read critically to develop a complex and varied conception of the philosophical basis underlying approaches to the theatre. Theorists read might include Aristotle, Artaud, Barba, Brecht, Diderot, Grotowski, Mnouchkine, Nietzsche, Plato, Rousseau, Stanislavski, Suzuki, and Zeami.

Design Theory and Practice
THR 540
Course surveys principal design areas, providing information about aesthetic theory and methods of stage design. Students address design problems and analyze a topic in design theory in conjunction with readings and instruction.

Teaching Seminar
THR 550
Supervised student teaching of undergraduate courses accompanied by a seminar in methods and strategies of teaching theatre arts at the University level. An independent teaching project, in which the student works with a particular faculty member, may be substituted.

Acting Theory and Practice
THR 560
Course surveys the field of acting—its history, formal principles, primary techniques, and contemporary practice. Students develop course papers and projects in conjunction with advanced readings and instruction.

M.A. Thesis
THR 590
Independent study and research for M.A. students, on special topics, theoretical or cultural issues, or problems. Development of material for research paper.

Independent Project
THR 591
Special project allowing advanced individual work in an area of theatre study or practice. Must be scheduled by arrangement with instructor. Should result in an advanced paper or project report.

Theory and Criticism
THR 625
Study of major issues in dramatic theory and criticism and in performance theory.

Dramaturgy Colloquium
THR 630
Through interaction with theatre professionals, students develop independent projects around topics of common concern to the profession, and develop strategies for implementing alternate plans for developing theatre.

Theories of Performance
THR 635
This course examines different theories of performance as they relate to the theatre and everyday life. The course explores ways of thinking about the performing body and different modes of cultural intervention. There is a performance component to the course in addition to a final paper.

Theatre Design Workshop
THR 640
Advanced assignments in theatre design. May include design work on departmental productions.

Playwrighting Workshop
THR 650
Students write and discuss original plays, evaluate their work, study techniques of composition and formal organization, and develop strategies for audience communication. Advanced students may study techniques for revision and the development of material for performance. Some plays may be selected for department production.

Acting Workshop
THR 660
Intensive advanced study in a particular acting technique, such as Kutiyattam, Suzuki, musical theatre, Brecht, etc. Offered in conjunction with departmental productions.

Directing Workshop
THR 670
Advanced training in directing, which may involve concentrated scene work, formal experiments in performance, work on period styles and problems, or preparation of performances for public showing.

Dramaturgy Workshop
THR 680
Students serve as dramaturgs for the production of a play, providing research support, studying editorial and interpretive techniques, attending rehearsals, and developing program materials for the audience.

Professional Internship
THR 690
A full-term internship at a professional theatre. Students should submit an internship description in the first month of work, then a journal or evaluation of their work experience.

M.F.A. Project
THR 691
The student submits a proposal for a project to be undertaken at a professional theatre in which the student has major responsibilities as an assistant dramaturg on a production or an equivalent position, or in-depth research on a particular theatre company that includes investigating repertoires, production values, and the community. All proposals must be submitted in writing to the faculty supervisor and graduate program director for approval.

Summer Research
THR 800
Independent study and research on special topics or problems related to work on the M.A. or M.F.A. degree.

Summer Teaching
THR 850
Supervised student teaching of undergraduate courses accompanied by a tutorial in methods and strategies of teaching theatre arts at the University level.

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